in house was a mausoleum

e long mahogany table, her hands folded in her lap to hide their shaking. She wore a high-collared silk blouse, the fab

h. He didn't look up from his Wall Street Journal. The s

ssie chirped from across the table.

for Janiya. Only the lady of th

ered. Eveline stare

echoed in

him like armor. Janiya was right behind him, looking fresh and

s breath

iya, then took his seat on Alistair's right. Vance appea

air said, finally lowering the newspaper. Hi

eline said quietly. "I

ed. "Just like your father. You're

ng slightly. "We were thinking... perhaps it's ti

china plate. It was a harsh, screec

ing his bacon, hi

ng for a strawberry. "Who wo

tgomery," H

that followe

idn't look up, but the air

od stock. If you can offload her to the Montg

executor, Fulton. What do you thi

t her ribs. Say no, she thought. Please, say no. A

linen napkin. He placed it on

yes were unreadable, devoid of any emoti

on said smoothly. "And h

m her face. He was agreeing? He

ing an octave. "The Montgomerys are notoriou

in his chair, c

a viable candidate, we need to

hand

the air, ugly a

amination," Fulton

clattered loudly against her

he could see it in the depths of his gaze. He smelled the secret on he

ton, you make it sound li

igence," Fult

abruptly her chair

voice shaking with rage and humil

," Alista

" Eveline turned

er lack of manners, but she didn't s

open, gasping

e wasn't

V at the bottom of the steps. He o

ne devoid of pity. "The appointm

rough the window, she could see Fult

ge. He had just found a legal